BAMBOO SAMPLING DESIGN

144 APPENDIX C

INDIVIDUAL TRIAL SUMMARIES 1. Feeding Trial 1 (7/21/14 - 7/23/14)

Diet sample collection began the evening of 7/21 with den loading for overnight, and ended early afternoon of 7/23, lasting approximately 48 hours. Fecal and ort

collections began the morning of 7/22, and continued until approximately 6 hours following the last diet sampling on 7/23. The giant pandas were offered four species of bamboo: Pseudosasa japonica, Phyllostachys (P.) aureosulcata, P. nuda, and P.

bissetii. Supplemental fruits (apples, bananas, grapes), hard-boiled eggs, leafeater biscuits (Mazuri, Marion), sugarcane, and an in-house prepared “panda bread,” were also given to the bears, although they constituted less than 4% of the total diet.

Bamboo bundles weighed approximately 5 to 9 kg, and giant pandas were provided fresh bamboo 4 to 6 times per day, at based on apparent animal interest in eating as determined by zookeepers. From visual examination of feces, the male bear

consumed both culm and leaves, while the female consumed primarily culm. Male and female body weights, taken on the second day of the trial (7/22/14), were 107.3 and 105 kg, respectively. At this time, the female subject was potentially gestating, though ultimately losing the fetus, or experiencing pseudopregnancy, in which she was exhibiting the hormonal and behavioral changes associated with gestation. As such, the female bear was allowed access to a maternity den and displayed nesting behaviors.

2. Feeding Trial 2 (1/3/15 – 1/5/15)

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Bamboo species offered during Digestibility Trial 2 was primarily P. aureosulcata, although the male giant panda also received P. bissetii and Pseudosasa japonica.

Supplements provided (Mazuri leafeater biscuit, apple, grape, sugarcane, panda bread, hard-boiled egg) were less than 2% of the total diet offered for both bears. The female bear was experiencing a second rise in progesterone, indicative of the start of an estrous cycle, which was believed to cause reduced intake and increased time spent resting. Visual examination of fecal material and periodic behavioral assessments indicated that both bears consumed primarily bamboo culm during the trial. Average male and female body weights, taken all three days of the trial, were 105 and 84 kg, respectively.

3. Feeding Trial 3 (3/23/15 – 3/25/15)

Giant pandas were offered four species of bamboo: Pseudosasa japonica,

Phyllostachys (P.) aureosulcata, P. nuda, and P. bissetii, with P. aureosulcata and P.

bissetii being the most abundantly provided to both bears. Supplements (Mazuri leafeater biscuit, apple, grape, hard-boiled egg) comprised less than 2% of the offered diets, and less than 5% of the consumed diets for both bears. Visual examination of fecal material and periodic behavioral observations indicated that both bears consumed primarily bamboo culm during the trial. Average male and female body weights, taken all three days of the trial, were 109 and 86 kg, respectively.

146 4. Feeding Trial 4 (5/11/15 – 5/13/15)

Giant pandas were offered Pseudosasa japonica, Phyllostachys (P.) aureosulcata, P.

and P. bissetii bamboo, as well as bamboo shoots of varying sizes and species

collected. Bamboo shoots constituted 35% and 43% of the diets (fresh weight) for the male and female, respectively, and were almost completely consumed. Both bears were also frequently provided large, branchless culms, and leaf consumption was not observed. At this time, it also was noted that leaves on offered bamboo were very small and had high water content. Average male and female body weights were 113 and 90 kg, respectively. Following the feeding trial, an additional, brief

culm-rejection trial was performed with the male, however he showed no interest in any of the offered culms. The female bear was artificially inseminated two weeks prior to the start of the trial, and may have been experiencing early gestation.

5. Feeding Trial 5 (10/27/15 – 10/30/15)

Trial 5 was extended compared to the previous trials, and lasted approximately 72 hours. At the beginning and end of diet collection, whole corn kernels were fed to the male bear to measure gastrointestinal passage rate. Total orts and fecal collection began after the passage of corn kernels fed at the beginning of the trial, and ended after the passage of corn kernels consumed at the final diet collection. The average of the two gastrointestinal transit trials for the male bear was 5 hrs and 47 min. In addition, complete bamboo diet and orts samples were taken and processed as whole bamboo through chipper shredder to calculate dry matter. The female bear was eating leaves and culm, and passed a mucoid in the weeks prior to the beginning of the trial.

The male bear had shifted to eating primarily culm, and had two mucoid fecal

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instances during the trial with the passage of the corn kernels. Bamboo was always offered as a mixed bundle of culms with branches and leaves, and the following species were provided: Pseudosasa japonica, Phyllostachys (P.) aureosulcata, P.

nuda, and P. bissetii. Average male and female body weights were 99 and 81 kg, respectively.

C.1—Bamboo species composition of diets of diets offered to the male (a) and female (b) giant panda during each trial.

(b) (a)

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C.2— Average proportions of bamboo plant parts of species offered to giant pandas at the Memphis Zoo over five feeding trials. Phyllostachys nuda (NU) was only fed in T1, T3, and T5. Proportions presented as percent of total bamboo sample on a PDM basis.

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C.3—Daily dry matter intake (DMI), fecal output (DFO), daytime eating activity, and daytime resting activity for the male (LL, 466) and female (YY, 507) adapted from keeper records taken over 17 days

150 C.3—continued (YY, 507)

151 C.4— Individual animal relative preference index (RPI)

OM NDF ADF HC ADL CP Starch

Offered 96.85% 83.54% 55.23% 28.31% 19.19% 6.22% 5.53%

Consumed 98.73% 85.88% 30.62% 55.26% 35.58% 7.32% 17.90%

RPI 1.02 1.03 0.55 1.95 1.85 1.18 3.23

Offered 96.78% 83.13% 54.83% 28.30% 19.82% 6.15% 5.68%

Consumed 93.77% 86.02% 30.18% 55.83% 29.24% 8.60% 14.02%

RPI 0.97 1.03 0.55 1.97 1.48 1.40 2.47

Offered 96.47% 82.56% 55.22% 27.35% 12.76% 6.47% 7.76%

Consumed 97.79% 83.71% 47.12% 36.59% 7.23% 8.14% 22.23%

RPI 1.01 1.01 0.85 1.34 0.57 1.26 2.86

Offered 96.66% 82.90% 56.03% 26.86% 12.94% 5.86% 8.19%

Consumed 98.20% 85.32% 50.23% 35.09% 11.95% 3.73% 16.39%

RPI 1.02 1.03 0.90 1.31 0.92 0.64 2.00

Offered 96.62% 83.50% 58.91% 24.59% 14.00% 4.42% 4.03%

Consumed 96.31% 77.91% 50.08% 27.83% 10.12% 5.61% 4.20%

RPI 1.00 0.93 0.85 1.13 0.72 1.27 1.04

Offered 96.14% 82.54% 57.44% 25.11% 13.16% 5.16% 3.65%

Consumed 97.20% 79.46% 56.34% 23.12% 15.79% 3.86% 2.79%

RPI 1.01 0.96 0.98 0.92 1.20 0.75 0.77

Offered 95.91% 81.28% 54.33% 26.94% 15.88% 5.23% 2.61%

Consumed 96.36% 65.93% 31.27% 34.66% 2.68% 3.53% 9.31%

RPI 1.00 0.81 0.58 1.29 0.17 0.67 3.57

Offered 95.76% 84.12% 59.63% 24.48% 13.41% 6.99% 2.28%

Consumed 96.49% 82.27% 53.03% 29.24% 12.25% 9.15% 6.83%

RPI 1.01 0.98 0.89 1.19 0.91 1.31 2.99

Offered 95.40% 83.59% 59.00% 24.59% 13.27% 7.39% 1.94%

Consumed 91.28% 76.40% 46.80% 29.60% 9.18% 14.64% 4.52%

RPI 0.96 0.91 0.79 1.20 0.69 1.98 2.33

Nutrient Concentration (% DM)

152 APPENDIX D